Blog Layout

Can I be charged with public intoxication?

On behalf of Shults Law Office • November 10, 2017

Tennessee is one of several states that prohibits individuals from being drunk in public. As a college student going to a sporting event or bar to have a few drinks with some friends, you need to be mindful of your actions while you are in public. 

You may not intend to drink enough alcohol to become intoxicated, but you never know how alcohol may affect your body. How much alcohol needed to become intoxicated varies depending on factors such as age, body weight, gender, and what you have had to eat and drink that day, to name a few. If the effects sneak up on you while you are in public, there is the chance that law enforcement could arrest you on public intoxication charges. 

However, just because you are drinking does not mean you will get a public drunkenness charge. Your demeanor and actions can lead to an arrest. In order for you to receive a public intoxication charge, law enforcement must prove your actions/intoxication falls under one of the following: 

  •        Endangerment to the public
  •        Endangerment to yourself
  •        Disturbing and disrupting the peace 

Some people who police officers apprehend for public intoxication also receive additional charges for breaking other laws. Alcohol clouds judgments and can make some people more aggressive and reckless. 

The penalties for a public intoxication charge  

Public drunkenness is a misdemeanor offense. In addition to receiving a sentence of up to 30 days in jail, a judge could require you to complete probation, pay a fine and court costs. Those are just the immediate legal effects. Other ways a misdemeanor involving public intoxication can affect you include exclusion from professional licensing in the health care, education and law enforcement fields, as well as adverse actions from college and education institutions, and potential employers. 

Challenging a charge such as this is not easy. To improve your chances at successfully defending yourself against the charge, consider speaking to an attorney for guidance on your options.

You can exercise your rights during a traffic stop

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • April 2, 2020
Flashing lights in your review mirror are intimidating, and when you realize you are the driver required to pull over, your concerns could increase. How will you afford to pay for a ticket? What if the police take you into custody? Will you lose your job because of this? Now imagine how you might feel if you had been drinking.…

Why creditors don’t want to violate stay orders

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • March 5, 2020
Those who file for bankruptcy in Tennessee or any other state will usually receive an automatic stay from creditor collection activities. In one case, a debtor’s divorce attorney claimed that she owed $10,000 in legal fees that were accrued before the Chapter 7 case was filed. Therefore, he didn’t believe that he had any legal obligation to stop pursuing a…

How to obtain a liquidation bankruptcy

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • February 19, 2020
Tennessee residents and others who are struggling to pay their debts may qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In such a proceeding, a debtor’s assets may be sold, and the money that a trustee is able to collect will be used to pay off some or all existing creditors. If there is not enough money to pay off a balance, whatever…

Tennessee raises penalties in DUI cases

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • February 5, 2020
People accused of drunk driving in Tennessee may face more severe penalties in case of a conviction, especially if they have multiple DUI convictions on their record. The state legislature has revised the criminal penalties associated with drunk driving, with some people facing years in prison as a result. In most cases, sentences are not associated with first-time DUI convictions,…

Prevent money trouble post split by being involved in marriage

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • January 20, 2020
Finances is one of the most important concerns when Tennessee couples get divorced. Recovering from the financial hit divorce often brings can take a while. One way to make this easier, however, is to be involved in all decisions made about finances during marriage. According to a study by Fidelity Investments, it takes about five years for people to recover…

Keep needs of the children in mind when creating a parenting plan

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • January 3, 2020
Tennessee co-parents want what is best for their children. This means that they must design an effective parenting plan. Cooperation between the parents is a must for a plan to work. Also, the plan should be created according to what the children need as they go through different stages of their lives. It has been recommended that babies and toddlers…

Student loans and bankruptcy

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • December 24, 2019
Many people living in Tennessee and around the country struggle with student loan payments. Despite their best efforts, they often find that they have difficulty keeping up with their loans and other expenses. Some of these student loan borrowers may wonder if it is possible to discharge their student loan debt in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the discharge of…

Racial gap persists in criminal justice system

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • December 11, 2019
Criminal justice reform advocates in Tennessee and across the country have highlighted racial disparities in incarceration rates, noting that the legal system has been unfair to black Americans. These racial gaps have continued decades after the end of Jim Crow segregation, exacting devastating effects on communities of color. One study finds a reason for optimism in the declining gap in…

Determining whether a prenuptial agreement is necessary

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • November 25, 2019
Some people in Tennessee may think of a prenuptial agreement as something that only wealthy people need. A prenup describes how property will be divided if a couple gets a divorce. A spouse might also waive the right to claim alimony using a prenup. For some people, a prenup might seem like preparation to divorce before the marriage has started.…

Survey finds people willing to go into debt for holidays

By On behalf of Shults Law Office • November 13, 2019
The holiday season may tempt some Tennessee consumers to use their credit cards for gifts and other spending. According to a survey by CreditCards.com, around half of Generation X and millennials and around one-third of baby boomers said they would be willing to take on credit card debt for the holidays. People who were already in debt were more willing…
More Posts
Share by: